Bus Rapid Transit System: A Game Changer for Commuters

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Among the many transportation modernization projects of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which aims to deliver a fast, convenient, and cost-effective commuting option to residents of Cebu and Manila.

“BRT systems around the world have been successful in mobilizing masses of people in dense urban settings, getting them to their destinations reliably through fixed schedules, efficiently through segregated lanes and priority passage, comfortably and safely through modern, well-equipped buses, and affordably through relatively lower capital costs and maintenance expenditures,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

“BRTs are game-changers. They are as effective as rail systems in terms of moving people around quickly and efficiently, but are much cheaper to build and are faster to develop. Since they will be granted as concessions, their riders will not be at the mercy of ‘colorum’ vehicles or transport strikes. They will be spared from unnecessary disruptions and unsafe traveling conditions,” Abaya noted.

The BRT concept began in Curitiba, Brazil in 1974, but the “BRT” name and the system’s popularity did not come until it was introduced in Bogota, Colombia in 2000. Currently, there are over two hundred (200) BRT systems either operating or being built worldwide.

Save the Camp John Hay Project, President Aquino

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If President Aquino wants to do something to save the Camp John Hay project the he must act quickly before it is too late. I am pretty sure the president himself spent some time vacationing in Camp John Hay so he must know how it feels like to spend a few days relaxing there.

However, the BCDA is not kind when it comes to dealing with the Camp John Hay Development Corporation as they managed to file a bunch of cases against them. Despite all that, the Camp John Hay Development Corporation has no plans of halting the Camp John Hay project because they paid a lot of money in rental to the BCDA and provided 2000 jobs to residents in Baguio City.

Baguio City residents are not happy with the way the BCDA are handling things as mayor Mauricio Domogan asked BCDA to submit for arbitration so this could be settled. That does not mean BCDA would do just that though. They are looking at a lot of loopholes and they could use those things against the CJHDevco.

Toycon 2014: Toys for the Big Boys

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Apparently, the Toycon this year is more than just a toy convention. It has evolve into something more...I couldn't really grasp the words right now...but it's definitely more like a toys for the big boys convention.

Gone are the majority of kids ogling at toys that were usually meant to play with. The toys at the Toycon are mostly high-priced items or collectibles that are intended to be framed, cased and displayed. You will rarely see a kid playing with a toy during the event. It's usually their fathers who were more eager to be there.

Cosplayers are also everywhere and they are mostly playing the part of anime, games, movies and fantasy characters. They may have toy equivalents but most of them didn't start out as a toy.

And what was this news about an all-girl group that even performed a lap dance? Insanity! Put that away please for there are still kids around!!!

The Toycon was an over-all success...but it had a peculiar stench still lingering for those who have witnessed that atrocious first day fiasco that was overwhelming as well.

I understand that boys of these age bracket probably have raging hormones (that's why sexy cosplayers are popular) but there's a proper place for all of these "lewdness" and not at a toy convention. I would have thought it was tolerable if they were cosplaying characters. But they were cosplaying themselves.